Welcome, and thank you for choosing to listen. Christian Heritage Fellowship is a listener supported organization, dedicated to reclaiming America's Christian Heritage and celebrating the life-changing influence of the Gospel around the world. Our organization remains committed to this purpose through the faithful giving of our friends and ministry family. If you can help us financially, we would sincerely appreciate it. A podcast of this article may be downloaded by selecting the download icon on the flyout tab of the listen button. And now, here is another episode from our post library, entitled, Christian Living in October.

By the time October arrives, many plans for the end-of-the-year activities are well underway or soon will be. No other season of the year provides as much opportunity for creating spiritual impressions upon young and old alike as do the closing months of the year. In contemporary society, Christians must conceive of ways to convey the glory of the gospel to a suspicious and cynical world. Often this task is complicated by the fact that America and other parts of the world are increasingly biblically illiterate and many audiences do not readily understand the allusions to Scriptural events and concepts. The end of the year affords sanctified creativity with many opportunities for Christian edification and proclamation, and it presents some of the most meaningful opportunities for appreciating our Christian heritage. As is the case on other occasions and for other events, October and the end of the calendar year offers Bible-believing Christians opportunities to correct errors and half-truths and set an agenda for Christian living that honors the Lord in every sphere of life.Christian Living October

In addition to the highlights of this month that are discussed below, additional subjects of interest regarding our Christian heritage are presented online, where they are arranged according to dates of occurrence. The online calendar where these articles are arranged is under continual development with new articles appearing as they become available. By clicking the message box below, readers will navigate to the present month under consideration.

The month of October is the tenth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months, each with a length of 31 days. In the evolution of the Western calendar, October was the eighth month in the old Roman Calendar, but when Julius Caesar introduced the Julian Calendar[1] two months were inserted at the beginning of the year—January and February. “October” means “eighth month,” but when the Julian Calendar inserted January and February, October (from the Latin “octo“) receded to the tenth month but its name was not changed to reflect its new position in the calendar.

In the Northern hemisphere, October is commonly associated with autumn, but in the Southern hemisphere, it is associated with spring where it is regarded as the seasonal equivalent to April in the Northern hemisphere, and vice versa.

Lamentably, many elections are decided by unbelievers because Christians fail to become involved in the political life of their communities, state, and nation. Often, many Christians and unbelievers alike take the position that there should be a separation of the Church from political interests. But in siding with the liberal cause, they deny Jesus Christ His rightful rule over the world. As the Apostle Paul began to close his letter to the Christians in the city of Rome, he penned the following benediction:

Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations so they might believe and obey Him—to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)[2]

God expects that all people and that all “nations should believe and obey Him.” No one can seriously appreciate the teaching of the Bible who denies God the right to rule over every sphere of what He has created!

Individual believers (as well as pastors) should encourage family members and friends to actively engage in a voter registration program. For years, liberal churches have endeavored to elect politicians of similar social views, while conservative Christians have been reluctant to actively engage in political efforts. One of the best sources for such endeavors is the conservative political organization known as “Champion the Vote.” Pastors and church leaders will be guided through the establishment of a voter registration campaign! Take a look at their offers today!

Christian explorer Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492, is annually remembered on the second Monday of October. After a long voyage at sea, Columbus set foot on land in the Bahamas and subsequently established Spanish rule in Hispaniola. Columbus’ Journal of the First Voyage to America clearly demonstrates that the explorer saw his mission as one that was to win souls for Christ. Under Spanish control, however, Hispaniola was greatly exploited; yet, Columbus’ original intent was not the exploitation of the native or the land. Rather, his motive was religious, as he related in his own words:

Whereas, Most Christian, High, Excellent, and Powerful Princes, King and Queen of Spain and of the Islands of the Sea, our Sovereigns, this present year 1492, after your Highnesses had terminated the war with the Moors reigning in Europe, the same having been brought to an end in the great city of Granada, where on the second day of January, this present year, I saw the royal banners of your Highnesses planted by force of arms upon the towers of the Alhambra, which is the fortress of that city, and saw the Moorish king come out at the gate of the city and kiss the hands of your Highnesses, and of the Prince my Sovereign; and in the present month, in consequence of the information which I had given your Highnesses respecting the countries of India and of a Prince, called Great Can, which in our language signifies King of Kings, how, at many times he, and his predecessors had sent to Rome soliciting instructors who might teach him our holy faith, and the holy Father had never granted his request, whereby great numbers of people were lost, believing in idolatry and doctrines of perdition. Your Highnesses, as Catholic Christians, and princes who love and promote the holy Christian faith, and are enemies of the doctrine of Mahomet [Islam], and of all idolatry and heresy, determined to send me, Christopher Columbus, to the above-mentioned countries of India, to see the said princes, people, and territories, and to learn their disposition and the proper method of converting them to our holy faith; and furthermore directed that I should not proceed by land to the East, as is customary, but by a Westerly route, in which direction we have hitherto no certain evidence that any one has gone. So after having expelled the Jews from your dominions, your Highnesses, in the same month of January, ordered me to proceed with a sufficient armament to the said regions of India, and for that purpose granted me great favors, and ennobled me that thenceforth I might call myself Don, and be High Admiral of the Sea, and perpetual Viceroy and Governor in all the islands and continents which I might discover and acquire, or which may hereafter he discovered and acquired in the ocean; and that this dignity should be inherited by my eldest son, and thus descend from degree to degree forever. Hereupon I left the city of Granada, on Saturday, the twelfth day of May, 1492, and proceeded to Palos, a seaport, where I armed three vessels, very fit for such an enterprise, and having provided myself with abundance of stores and seamen, I set sail from the port, on Friday, the third of August, half an hour before sunrise, and steered for the Canary Islands of your Highnesses which are in the said ocean, thence to take my departure and proceed till I arrived at the Indies, and perform the embassy of your Highnesses to the Princes there, and discharge the orders given me. For this purpose I determined to keep an account of the voyage, and to write down punctually everything we performed or saw from day to day, as will hereafter appear. Moreover, Sovereign Princes, besides describing every night the occurrences of the day, and every day those of the preceding night, I intend to draw up a nautical chart, which shall contain the several parts of the ocean and land in their proper situations; and also to compose a book to represent the whole by picture with latitudes and longitudes, on all which accounts it behooves me to abstain from my sleep, and make many trials in navigation, which things will demand much labor.[3]

When Columbus first stepped on shore he christened the island San Salvador-meaning “Holy Savior”-and prayed: “O Lord, Almighty and everlasting God, by Thy holy Word Thou hast created the heaven, and the earth, and the sea; blessed and glorified by Thy name, and praised be Thy Majesty, which hath deigned to use us, Thy humble servants, that Thy holy Name may be proclaimed in this . . . part of the earth.”[4]

The Christian influence upon Western civilization started with Columbus and continued through the Founding Fathers of the United States. Since the 1920s, secularists have derided, doubted, and denied this influence, but the historical facts demonstrate the Christian origin of America!

As the Apostles bore testimony to their faith in their Lord Jesus Christ through martyrdom, the Early Church began to observe days of remembrance for their ministries. Unfortunately, the Christian Church also began to practice hagiolatry or the worship of the saints. The pagan idea of prayer being offered to and for the dead was absorbed into the practice of many Christians. Though the Bible teaches that Christians should never pray or worship to anyone or anything other than God, there is an appropriate place in the life of the Christian Church to remember with appreciation the faithful Christian who have given their strength and lives for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The lives of the Apostles Jude (also called Lebbaeus, Judas, Thaddaeus) and Simon the Zealot are both remembered on October 28.

St. Simon

As is true of many of the Apostles, only faint evidence exists concerning the missionary efforts of St. Simon the Zealot. Though scholarly evidence for the ministry of the Apostle Simon outside of the New Testament is scarce, it is believed he labored in Palestine and may have labored together with the Apostle Jude in his evangelistic endeavors. An early Church historian claims that Simon was beheaded in Persia or shared the fate of other believers who were sawn to pieces as indicated in Hebrews 11. The shield that bears witness to his ministry contains a fish and the Scriptures, indicating he was a fisher of men through the proclamation of the Gospel.

The Apostle Jude, reportedly having traveled with Simon, is also said to have ministered in various places. The date of his death and the exact circumstances which surrounded his martyrdom are unknown for certain. Having traveled with St. Simon, some have believed he was also martyred with his companion. The lives and ministries of the Apostles Jude and Simon are remembered annually on the same day, October 28.

The Thanksgiving/Christmas seasons provide believers with an opportunity to cooperatively seek to meet the physical needs of the local community. One of the effective means of multiplying the efforts of individual believers or local churches is to join efforts with other local ministries. By uniting with Christian charitable institutions, believers’ efforts are multiplied. Likewise, most churches do not have the resources to meet the numerous material needs of the communities that they serve. During these important seasons, joining forces with the Salvation Army or other Christian organizations enhances the gifts of individuals and churches and allows these organizations to serve more effectively.

While individuals or families may adapt the following suggestions, local churches may benefit most significantly. Non-perishable charitable contributions may be received for cooperative ministry at two periods around the Thanksgiving/Christmas seasons—each of which may extend over a period from three to four weeks. The first period begins at the end of October and ends about a week before Thanksgiving. The second possible period begins following Thanksgiving and continues to about a week before Christmas. It should be noted that a period of about a week (or more) is necessary to get non-perishable goods to charitable agencies so those goods may be distributed in a timely manner.

Note: To help provide for the material needs of the local community, local churches may enter into cooperative ministry with other Christian organizations throughout the entire year by contributing monthly to those organizations which are more qualified to meet the demands of such ministries. Requests for assistance that are made to the local church may be referred to such charitable ministries with the confidence that the local church is helping to meet these needs.

At all times and in all ways, Christians should seek to redeem the elements of society and bring them in conformity to the will of God as revealed in his Word, the Bible. In various cultures, Christians have attempted to displace pagan celebrations and cultural observances because of their incompatibility with Christian worship and morality. In some cases, they met with success, but often pagan culture has diluted the richer and higher claims of the Gospel of Christ upon individuals and all society. The subject of Halloween is one area that for centuries has eluded the complete submission to the true character of Christ. It is easy for a vibrant Christian to over react against perceived illegitimate principles or practices, but a reaction seldom positions an ardent believer in favorable light with the Lord or those observing Christians’ reactions. For this reason, believers should be provided with a biblical response to the pagan origin and practices that gave rise to observances such as Halloween.

On October 31, 1517, Augustinian monk, Martin Luther, initiated the Protestant Reformation by nailing his Ninety-five Theses to the door of the castle church at Wittenberg, Germany. Previous attempts to reform the Roman Church had failed, and Rome was far from the evangelical truth that had birthed the Christian Church. Salvation was believed to be achieved through protracted self-effort rather than a vibrant transforming faith in Christ as the only Savior of the human race.

This date should not be an occasion to merely rehearse differences of principles, but rather, the entire Church should celebrate this occasion when a significant portion of the Church returned to its biblical evangelical faith. Had the entire Church returned to a deep conviction of salvation by a living—not a dead or dormant—faith, the kingdom of Christ on earth would have been realized to a degree never previously realized.

Part of the glorious heritage of the Christian Faith is the rise and progress of the Protestant Reformation. Because of it, the Western Church that descended from Rome would never be the same. Parents and grandparents should seek opportunity to introduce children and grandchildren to the heroes of this era of the Christian Church. Pastors and church leaders should be versed in the most basic details of the individuals and principles involved in the Protestant Reformation. Denominational and local leaders must help recapture a sense of the glory of the Church by studying and celebrating its heritage, and Reformation Sunday is one of those important occasions!

Paul L. Maier, Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed The World. A 2005 Gold Medallion finalist! Martin Luther served as a catalyst of the Protestant Reformation in sixteenth-century Europe. This book teaches children about his fascinating life, influence, and teaching while encouraging them to see how God uses them in His kingdom today. Children learn the historic background to a significant time in the church. They discover that, like Martin Luther, they can learn about the reality of Christ’s life and death on their behalf, His grace and mercy, and His desire for them as baptized, redeemed children of God.

To speak intelligently to a believing and unbelieving world, Christians must not only be able to defend the truth associated with the lives of the virtuous, but must also be prepared to expose the facts concerning the villainous. For this reason, individuals and events that are both beneficial and malignant are noted below. Knowledge of the virtuous provides insight into how the believer should live, while examples of the villainous prepare believers to “give an answer” to every individual of how life should not be lived (1 Peter 3:15).

George Washington

October 3, 1789: On October 3, 1789, President George Washington issued, from the U.S. Capitol in New York City, the first Presidential Proclamation of a National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer to Almighty God. What occasioned the Proclamation was the submission of the Bill of Rights by the first session of Congress. On September 25, 1789, the Bill of Rights were finalized by the first Congress and submitted to the states for ratification, which was finally accomplished on December 15, 1791. These ten amendments (Bill of Rights) further limited the power of the newly formed federal government over the authority of the state governments.

October 9, 1747: David Brainerd (April 20, 1718-October 9, 1747) was an American missionary to the Native Americans who had a particularly fruitful ministry among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey. During his short life, he was beset by many difficulties. As a result, his biography has become a source of inspiration and encouragement to many Christians, including missionaries such as William Carey and Jim Elliot, and Brainerd’s cousin, the Second Great Awakening evangelist James Brainerd Taylor (1801-1829).

Charles Martel

October 10, 732: The Battle of Tours (October 10, 732) also called the Battle of Poitiers. This battle represents the high water mark for Muslims in Europe. Since the lifetime of Muhammad, Muslims continued their crusades against Christians. Charles Martel halted their advance in Europe.

October 10, 1788: The last session during which the Continental Congress succeeded in achieving a quorum. The Continental Congress passed its last act on this date; 1789, March 2: Last session of the Continental Congress at Fraunces Tavern is adjourned sine die. Philip Pell of New York was the sole member in attendance.

October 10, 1958: George Bennard (February 4, 1873 – October 10, 1958) was an American hymn composer and preacher. He is best known for composing the famous hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross”.

October 26, 1751: Philip Doddridge DD (26 June 1702 – 26 October 1751) was an English Nonconformist leader, educator, and hymnwriter.

Throughout the summer months, families are preoccupied with various activities that are often unique to this season of the year. Family vacations, church camp, and other activities provide materials from which family and personal memories are made. For those of us who are privileged to regularly share in a good summer family church camp, meeting with the Lord and cherished friends for a few days of spiritual retreat is eagerly anticipated. LamentRead more...

Each month offers new and exciting opportunity for Christians to celebrate their faith. If observed without regard to the rest of the year, any given month—by itself—may appear stark and lean. But, within the context of the Christian life, each month enjoys greater vividness and importance. If one piece of a stained glass window is missing, the design or story of the window appears incomplete. The months of the year should help to compose a beautRead more...

May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of November in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. May is named after the Greek goddess Maia, whom the Romans called Bona Dea, goddess of fertility—something quiet common within paganism.
The month of May in many ways stands as the gateway to the summer. But May is not only useful for what it introduces but alsoRead more...

The single most important event in early Christianity was the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Long before the Church celebrated the birth of Jesus in the Christmas season, Christians celebrated the resurrection of Christ from the grave. In contemporary Christianity and secular society, Christmas now receives more interest than Easter, but early believers understood that the Church was established upon the suffering and resurrection of ChrRead more...

Stephen Flick heads Christian Heritage Fellowship, a national organization dedicated to reclaiming America’s Christian Heritage and celebrating the life-changing influence of the Gospel around the world.
Concerned with the cultural decay of America, Dr. Flick has sought to provide answers to fellow Christians (and unbelievers) concerning the questions and objections to Christianity often posed by secularists and the irreligious.
Dr. Flick is a writer and speaker and has authored numerous articles and books on America’s Christian heritage. He earned his Ph.D. from Drew University in history and Christian theology and has taught at the graduate level as full professor. He has been a licensed minster for nearly forty years and resides in East Tennessee with his wife, Beth. They have two grown, married children and five grandchildren.

Quote Cloud

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Almost all the civil liberty now enjoyed in the world owes its origin to the principles of the Christian religion. Men began to understand their natural rights, as soon as the reformation from popery began to dawn in the sixteenth century; and civil liberty has been gradually advancing and improving, as genuine Christianity has prevailed. By the principles of the Christian religion we are not to understand the decisions of ecclesiastical councils...No; the religion which has introduced civil liberty, is the religion of Christ and his apostles, which enjoins humility, piety and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free constitutions of government.
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